Market Yourself....

How do you present your music visually? The decisions about how your music sounds is your art, your personal expression. However, marketing your music is not about originality. So, the visual materials, for example, should contain and present the music effectively or you could be missing out on opportunities to enhance the public's perception of you and your music.

One of the advantages of being an independent recording artist is the extra freedom for self-expression. On the other hand, presenting that work to the public using CD packaging, websites, and other visual designs needs to meet a particular function, marketing. While marketing may contain elements of self-expression, its primary purpose is communication; you are wanting to assist people into knowing about, listening to and buying your music.

Yeah, I know, "marketing" probably makes the hair on the back of your neck stand up. It seems like it is totally opposite to the reason you are an artist. Yet, here you are, album in hand, and you are wanting people to hear it... to buy it and help support your creative career.

Do the marketing yourself?
Maybe you've had some time to market your album and you're finding it's a lot more work than anticipated. Perhaps you're beginning to realize there are actually advantages in signing with a record company. But, oh, but those horror stories you hear... you don't want to go there! Well, there may be some compromises, but it doesn't have to be all bad. Many independent record labels understand the needs of indie artists. Keep in mind, they need to make money to stay in business too.

However, stay focused on what is important for you to maintain. For instance, don't give up the rights to your songwriting. (However, it is common to grant the rights to the specific recordings for your album, not the lyrics and music. Read more about copyright information by clicking on the colored text you